>    '       '    '      J       '      '       '    ■  , 


Great  Economy  in  Cost  of  Production, 


AND 


SUPERIORITY  OF  ARTICLE 


SECURED  AT  THE  SAME  TIME. 


WM,  F.  MURPHY'S  SONS,  339  CHESTNUT  ST.,  AND  55  SOUTH  FOURTH  ST. 

1866. 


UNlVEFSJTYOf 
BOOKSTACKS 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 


Intkodhctoet,  5 

The  Process,  and  the  Advantages  Claimed,            .....  5 

Questions  and  Answers  Explanatory  of  the  Patent  Petroleum  Gas,      -          -  -  6 

"               Relative  to  Foul  Odor,      .....  6 

"                      "        Danger  of  Life  and  Property,       ...  6 

"                      "        its  component  parts,     ....  Q 

"                      "        Management  of  Works,     ....  7 

"                        "                     "        the  Deterioration  of  the  Gas,   ...  7 

"                      "        Quantity  and  Quality,       .          .          _  .  7 

"■•^                        "                      "        Construction  of  Apparatus,      ...  7 

'•                      "        Alteration  of  Gas  Works,  -          -          -  -  8 

"                      "        Economy  of  Production  of  Gas,          -  8 

"                               its  adaptation  to  general  use,        .          --  .  9 

"                      "        Supply  of  Petroleum,  -  9 

Enhanced  Value  of  Oil,     -          -          -  -  10 

"        Dangers  of  Explosion,  -          -          -          -  10 

"                               Insurance,  -          -          -          -          .  -  10 

"                     "        the  Invention,  -          -          -          -          .  Xl 

Corroborative  data,       -          -          -          .          -                    .          .  -11 

\o         Scientific  and  Legal  Opinions,  &c,-          -          -          -          .          .          .  H 

Weight  of  Product  of  Material,          -          -          -          -          .          .  .  12 

_f         Saving  of  Expense,  &c.,      -          -          -          .          .          .          .          .  ^3 

^         Comparative  Cost,        -          -          -          -          .          .          .          .  -13 

^        Use  of  Salisbury's  Gas  no  bar  to  Insurance,           .....  ^4 

y          Cost  of  Gas  and  Clogging  of  Works,    -          -          -          -          -          .  -  14 

o          What  Philadelphia  would  Save,      -          -          -          -          .          .          .  I5 

Pennsylvania  Gas  Companies,  -          -          -          -          .          .          _  -  15 

Charter  of  Pennsylvania  Petroleum  Gas  Company,            -          -          .          .  17 

Conclusion,       -  to 


* 


4 


INTRODUCTORY 


How  to  obtain  the  best  and  cheapest  light  and  heat,  has  been  patter  of  thought  and  study  in  all  ages, 
among  practical  and  scientific  people.  Entering  largely  into  the  wants  and  comforts  of  society,  much  time, 
and  great  amount  of  means,  have  been  appropriated  to  this  purpose,  in  the  hope  of  securing  these  invaluable 
desiderata.  It  is,  perhaps,  needless  to  say,  when  every  consumer  is  complaining  of  cost  and  quality  of  the 
article  at  present  furnished,  that,  as  yet,  the  public  are  not  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  proper  remedy  or  substi- 
tute. This  deprivation,  however,  it  is  believed,  need  no  longer  be  suffered  or  submitted  to.  The  object  of 
this  paper  is  to  give,  as  briefly  as  possible,  incontrovertible  facts  and  reasons  for  this  belief. 

Shortly  after  the  discovery  of  the  large  deposits  of  petroleum,  the  best  scientific  knoAvledge  of  the 
country  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  subject  of  the  uses  to  which  this  new  commodity  could  be  applied. 
Inventive  talent,  always  ready  to  seize  hold  of  that  which  promises  profit  and  convenience,  saw  in  it 
material  that  would  supplant,  or  take  the  place  of  bituminous  coal,  in  the  production  of  Light  and  Heat. 
Patient  investigation,  and  innumerable  experiments,  have  developed  the  fact  that  it  can  be  converted  into 
gas  of  the  greatest  brilliancy,  purity  and  power,  adapted  alike  to  the  illumination  of  all  descriptions  of 
buildings,  and  the  heating  of  them  at  the  same  time,  in  a  manner  infinitely  better  and  cheaper,  the  discoverer 
of  the  process  alleges,  than  coal  produces.  The  reader  himself  will  be  able  to  determine  whether  this  be  so 
or  not.  The  most  skeptical,  if  due  weight  be  given  to  the  facts  herein  presented,  will  be  likely  to  have  their 
minds  disabused  or  relieved  of  doubt  upon  the  subject. 


THE  PROCESS  .AND  THE  ^DV^ISTT^QES 

CLAIMED. 

Mr.  S.  C.  Salisbury,  of  New  York,  is  the  patentee  of  the  process  by  which  this  great  change  or 
improvement  is  effected.  He  has,  he  contends — and  practical  tests  sustain  him  in  the  assertion — by  skillfully 
combining  with  his  own  discoveries  the  available  ideas  of  others,  produced  a  simple  and  efficient  apparatus, 
with  which  the  use  of  coal  is  virtually  superseded.  His  process  of  manufacturing  gas,  on  this  principle,  can 
be  applied,  with  equal  facility  to  the  family  wants  of  small  private  residences,  to  the  requirements 
of  a  hotel,  ster.mboat,  railroad  car,  or  place  of  entertainment,  or  to  the  demands  of  a  large  city — such  as 
Philadelphia. 

In  its  working,  he  says,  it  is  so  free  from  intricacy  or  danger  that  its  management  may  be  confided  to 
any  one  of  common  intelligence,  without  the  slightest  fear  of  accident. 

The  gas  can  be  distributed  over  a  house  through  the  pipes  and  burners  now  in  service;  it  can  be  as 
readily  lighted,  shut  off  and  controlled  as  the  ordinary  coal  gas,  and  the  app;iratus  is  so  arranged  as  to 
preclude  the  possibility  of  explosion.    The  flame  of  this  gas  is  larger  from  a  three  feet  burner  than  that  of 
coal  gas  from  a  five  feet  burner  ;  it  is  far  whiter  and  more  brilliant,  and  is  less  than  one-half  of  the  cost. 
2-(5) 


6 


Thus  comprehensive  in  its  adaptation  to  the  wants  of  the  people,  it  is  no  idle  remark,  in  alleging  that 
it  will  do  away  with  the  necessity  of  the  extensive  consumption  of  coal. 

Mr.  Salisbury,  in  fact,  claims  that  his  petroleum  gas  commends  itself  to  general  use — 
1st.  For  its  brilliancy  or  illuminating  powers. 

2d.  For  its  intensity  of  heat — for  accommodating  buildings,  and  for  culing-ry  purposes. 

3d.  For  its  exemption  from  foul  odors. 

4th.  For  its  economy  in  large  and  portable  Gas  Works. 

5th.  For  its  cheapness  in  the  light  and  heat  secured. 

6th.  And  for  its  freedom  from  danger  in  the  use  of  the  gas. 

Once  convinced  that  these  advantages  are  real  and  practical,  all  classes  will  avail  themselves  of  this 
patent  petroleum  gas. 


QXJESTIOI^S  A^ISTD  ANSWERS  EXFLA.ISrA.TORY  OF 

MR.  SALISBXJRY'S  PROCESS. 

In  order  to  elicit  the  truth,  as  well  as  to  anticipate  the  inquiries  of  such  persons  as  may  think  of 
using  this  gas,  the  purchasers  of  the  right  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  propounded,  a  short  time 
since,  a  number  of  interrogatories  to  the  patentee,  Mr.  Salisbury.  They  are  given  below,  with  his  answers. 
A  perusal  of  the  questions  and  answers  cannot  fail  to  impress  the  intelligent  mind  most  favorably  with  the 
patent  gas ;  for  they  clearly  and  fully  establish  the  points  of  advantage  claimed. 


RELATIVE  TO  FOUL  ODOR. 

1.  Question. — Will  the  manufacture  of  gas  in  your  apparatus  create  disagreeable  odor,  making  the 
place  in  which  it  is  manufactured  offensive,  or  any  other  part  of  the  building  offensive  ? 

Answer. — It  can  be  generated  in  a  parlor.  The  purifying  process  of  coal  gas  is  mainly  to  remove 
the  sulphur  and  ammonia,  none  of  which  exist  in  any  quantities  in  petroleum  ;  therefore  no  lime  is  required, 
and  consequently  none  of  the  foul  odors  in  the  manufacture  of  coal  gas  can  arise  in  the  gas  made  from 
crude  oil. 

RELATIVE  TO  DANGER  OF  LIFE  AND  PROPERTY. 

2.  Question. — Will  it — should  there  be  any  breakage — form  an  explosive  mixture,  making  it  dangerous 
to  life  and  property  ? 

Answer. — None  whatever  different  from  coal  gas ;  in  fact,  from  the  superior  richness  of  petroleum 
gas  in  carbon,  it  is  less  dangerous,  when  confined  in  a  body  and  brought  in  contact  with  a  light,  than  coal 
gas,  because  in  its  combustion  it  cannot  absorb  as  much  oxygen. 

RELATIVE  TO  ITS  COMPONENT  PARTS. 

3.  Question. — What  are  the  component  parts  of  the  gas  made  from  petroleum,  or  in  what^way"does  it 
differ  from  gas  made  of  bituminous  coal  ? 


7 


Answer. — It  differs  in  its  combinations  from  coal  gas,  and,  being  a  bi-carbon,  and  having  a  specific 
gravity  of  .960  to  .980,  possesses  three  times  the  lighting  power  usually  found  in  the  best  coal.  Being  free 
from  sulphur,  and  having  strong  heating  powers,  makes  an  excellent  fuel  for  summer  cooking. 

RELATIVE  TO  MANAGEMENT  OF  WORKS. 

4.  Question. — What  kind  of  management  is  required  to  use  the  apparatus  properly  ?  Can  any 
person  manage  it,  or  will  it  require  an  experienced  person? 

Answer. — Any  machinist  with  ordinary  ability,  or  any  intelligent  person  with  proper  tuition,  can 
manage  small  works.  In  larger  works,  however,  it  would  be  better  to  employ  competent  men.  Petro- 
leum gag  works,  owing  to  their  simplicity,  require  less  skill  than  coal  gas  works,  both  in  their  construction 
and  operation. 

RELATIVE  TO  DETERIORATION  OF  THE  GAS. 

6.  Question. — Will  the  gas  condense,  by  being  kept  on  hand  any  time,  or  will  it  hold  its  own,  as  coal 
gas  does? 

Answer. — The  petroleum  being  a  permanent,  fixed  gas,  by  the  destruction  of  many  of  the  elements 
contained  in  the  oil,  when  subjected  to  heat,  cannot  condense.  The  petroleum  gas  has  retained  its  fixedness, 
burnt  as  well,  and  suffered  no  deterioration  whatever  when  eleven  days  in  the  holder,  as  if  consumed  the 
day  on  which  it  was  made.    These  observations  were  noted  during  the  coldest  days  in  January  last. 

RELATIVE  TO  QUANTITY  AND  QUALITY. 

7.  Question. — How  much  less  of  this  gas  will  give  the  same  illuminating  power  that  one  thousand  cubic 
feet  of  coal  gas  gives  ? 

Answer. — In  the  tables  prepared  by  this  Company,  ( — "  Salisbury's  American  Petroleum  Gas  Com- 
pany, N.  Y. — )  it  has  invariably  compared  a  2  foot  burner  consuming  petroleum  gas  with  a  5  foot  burner 
consuming  coal  gas,  as  being  fully  its  equal  in  size  of  flame,  and  its  superior  in  brilliancy  of  light.  Thus, 
where  1,000  cubic  feet  of  coal  gas  is  required,  400  cubic  feet  of  petroleum  gas  will  be  sufficient.  In  all 
scientific  tests  with  the  photometer,  the  power  of  the  light  from  petroleum  is  more  than  3  to  1.  Dr.  Pig- 
got's  report  will  give  all  the  details  upon  this  subject. 

RELATIVE  TO  CONSTRUCTION  AND  APPARATUS. 

8.  Question. — What  will  it  cost,  all  complete,  to  erect  an  apparatus  of  sufficient  capacity  to  manufac- 
ture 20,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  in  24  hours,  or  any  quantity  under  that  amount  in  the  same  proportion  ? 

Answer. — Coal  gas  works  affording  a  daily  supply  of  25,000  cubic  feet,  would  suSice  for  a  city  of 
8,000  to  9,000  inhabitants.  Works  of  the  same  capacity,  using  petroleum,  would  supply  a  population  of 
25,000.  These  could  be  constructed  from  25  to  35  per  cent,  cheaper  than  coal  gas  works — ranging  from 
^20,000  to  $25,000,  without  the  ground.  It  is  difficult  to  give  any  estimate  that  would  be  of  any  value, 
until  an  examination  of  locality  is  first  made. 


8 


RELATIVE  TO  ALTERATION  OF  GAS  WORKS. 

9.  Question. — What  would  be  the  probable  cost  of  altering  gas  works  from  coal  to  petroleum,  where 
60,000  cubic  feet  are  made  daily ;  or,  what  would  it  cost  to  change  the  Philadelphia  Gas  Works  from  its 
present  mode  of  manufacturing  gas  to  your  mode  of  manufacturing  gas,  where  3,000,000  cubic  feet 
are  required  to  be  produced  daily  ? 

Answer. — The  cost  of  changing  coal  gas  works  now  storing  60,000  cubic  feet  daily,  to  petroleum 
gas  that  will  hold  the  same  quantity,  would  not  be  over  $5,000  to  $7,000 — the  alterations  being  chiefly  in 
the  retorts  and  setting  them. 

In  relation  to  changing  the  mode  of  making  gas  in  works  like  those  in  Philadelphia,  it  is  impossible  to 
give  an  idea  without  personal  inspection,  although  the  exchange  of  retorts  would  not  cost  exceeding  $30,000. 
But  in  large  works  there  will  be  many  other  heavy  expenses ;  besides,  in  your  city,  the  gas  is  made  in 
separate  works,  miles  apart.    An  approximate  idea  may  be  gathered  in  the  first  part  of  my  reply. 

I  might  add  that  there  are  two  ways  in  which  coal  gas  works  can  largely  increase  the  brilliancy  of  their 
gas,  without  any  material  cost  of  production.  One  is,  to  make  one-third  cf  the  daily  product  petroleum  gas 
and  two-thirds  coal  gas.  This  would  raise  the  power  of  the  two  gases  combined  to  23  candles,  or  eight  more 
than  the  standard  for  the  best  coal  gas.  The  other  is  to  make  a  lesser  quantity  of  gas  and  make  it  all  from 
petroleum,  and  bring  up  the  required  daily  product  of  gas  by  mixing  with  it  atmospheric  air,  never  allowing 
the  power  of  luminosity  in  the  gas  to  fall  below  20  candles.  The  cost  would  be  very  trifling  in  comparison 
with  coal  gas ;  and  would  remove  the  many  causes  of  complaint  made  by  consumers  against  gas  companies, 
both  on  account  of  the  inferiority  of  the  light  furnished  in  coal  gas,  and  the  foul  odors  arising  from  its 
purification. 

RELATIVE  TO  ECONOMY  OF  PRODUCTION  OF  GAS. 

10.  Question. — How  much  more  economical  and  superior  is  your  gas  to  that  which  is  manufactured 
from  coal  or  any  other  substance  as  yet  introduced  and  in  use  ? 

Answer. — Coal  being  almost  exclusively  used  in  gas  making,  it  is  not  easy  to  draw  any  analogy 
between  it  and  any  other  material  that  can  be  used,  other  than  what  this  Company  has  done  with  petroleum 
in  its  experimental  works  and  tests.    From  these  tests  and  experiments,  it  is  able  to  state  the  prime  cost  to 


works,  say  capable  of  producing  23,000  cubic  feet  in  2J:  hours,  which  is  as  follows: 

6|  galls.  Oil  (maximum)  25  cts.  gall,  and  cartage,        -       -       -  $1  68 

Fuel  for  retort,  19 

Labor  in  making,  20 

Superintendence,  -  17 


■    $2  24 

}th.  value  of  empty  bbl.,  worth  $1  50,  is     -       -       -       -  25 

Less  cartage  and  labor,    -       --       --       -         1  24 


Cost  of  1,000  cubic  feet  petroleum  gas,       .       -       .       .  $2  00 


This  is  about  the  cost  of  1,000  cubic  feet  coal  gas,  delivered  into  the  gas-holder,  with  coal  at  $11  40 
in  the  yard ;  but  in  point  of  economy  with  consumers,  it  is  equal  to  3,000  cubic  feet  of  coal  gas  in  ordinary 
burning,  or  66fc.  1,000  cubic  feet. 


9 

RELATIVE  TO  ITS  ADAPTION  TO  GENERAL  USE. 


11.  Question. — Is  it  adapted  to  private  as  well  as  general  use;  that  is,  to  manufacture  it  either  in  private 
houses  or  at  regular  works  for  cities  and  villages  ?  (name  in  this  connexion  cost  of  apparatus  for  private 
dwellings.) 

Answer. — It  is  adapted  in  portable  works  to  Dwelling  Houses,'  Fapto?;'r?s.;:,  Hotels,  Saloons  and 
Restaurants,  Offices,  Theatres,  Newspaper  establishments.  Railroad  StatibilbVlStore-S  Vr'd  S-hops,  and  in  fact 
in  any  other  place  when  the  quantity  of  gas  consumed  makes  it  lin^qlvjeDt  to  th'e,  consumer.  Apparatus 
capable  of  making  and  storing  50  cubic  feet  at  one  time,  all  complete  will  cost  $S25  to  $350o*  .  This  will  give 
light  for  eight  burners  for  three  hours,  but  if  gas  is  made  in  it  as  required  dpi'i^ig'  tte  ;6ven'ing  it  will  accom- 
modate thirty  to  forty  burners.  One  of  double  the  capacity  to  store  gas  would  only  cost  |jy50  to  $75  more, 
and  would  supply  sixteen  burners  from  gas  made  at  one  time,  for  three  hours. 

Another  size  that  will  make  and  store  300  feet  at  one  time,  will  cost  675  to  $700. 

500    "     "       "       "       875  to  $900. 
750    "     "       "       "     1050  to  $1075. 
1000    "     "       "       "     1175  to  $1200. 

RELATIVE  TO  SUPPLY  OF  PETROLEUM. 

12,  Question. — If  your  gas  be  generally  introduced,  what  data  have  you  to  show  that  the  production  of 
petroleum  will  be  equal  to  the  demand,  for  this  purpose  alone,  and  also,  to  show  that  the  permanency  of  the 
production  may  be  relied  upon  ? 

Answer. — Prof.  Hayes,  on  behalf  the  U.  S.  Revenue  Commission,  in  his  report  as  Chairman,  states 
that  there  are  197  farms  in  Venango  County,  Pennsylvania,  having  on  them  741  producing  wells, — 465  that 
could  produce,  if  sufficient  inducements  were  given,  and  1,868  non-producing  wells; — Total,  3,069  wells. 

On  six  farms  on  Pithole  Greek,  there  are  several  wells,  producing  upon  an  average  140  barrels  each  day; 
how  many  he  does  not  say.  On  the  remaining  fifty-five  farms  there  are  571  wells  that  yield  on  an  average, 
16-f  barrels  per  day  to  each  well.  The  465  wells  can  yield  upon  an  average  five  barrels  per  day  to  each  well. 
These  would  aggregate  a  supply  of  12,682  barrels  per  day,  or,  for  313  days,  nearly  4,000,000  barrels  in  a 
year.  These  wells  being  worked  at  irregular  periods,  the  supply,  of  course,  is  not  as  large.  The  quantity 
accounted  for  in  1865  is  not  far  from  2,700,000  barrels, — not  including  the  stock  raised  and  in  tanks  at  the 
place  of  production,  viz  : — 

Converted  into  refined,   1,746,166 

Crude  shipped  to  Europe,      -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  136,709 

Stocks  of  crude  on  hand  1st  January,  1866,   262,000 

Wasted  en  route  and  used,   200,000 

Difference  between  what  was  ascertained  to  be  the  production  in  the 

conversion  into  refined,  and  the  duties  paid  on  crude,  $1  00,  per  bbl.,  351,731 


Balance,   .  2,696,606 

*  Works  or  apparatus,  slightly  varied,  for  houses,  &c.,  can  be  procured  at  about  70  per  cent,  of  this  cost ;  but  it  is  deemed  best  to 
adopt  such  as  are  here  referred  to. 
3 


lO 


As  to  the  permanency  of  supply,  or  the  quantity  of  oil  underlying  the  surface,  one  man's  opinion  is  as 
good  as  another's.  Admitting  the  oil  is  there,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  in  a  supply  to  the  extent 
.  of  even  3,000,000  barrels,  let  us  see  how  it  would  be  affected  if  the  whole  450  gas  works  in  the  United  States 
should  ignore  coal  and  adopt  petroleum.  Last  year  these  450  works  produced  in  coal  gas  in  round  numbers 
10,000,000,000  cubic  feet.  New  York  producing  one-fifth,  and  Philadelphia,  Brooklyn,  Boston  and  vicinity, 
Baltimore,  Cincinnati  M>d  Chicago,' three-tenths, — these  seven  cities  with  an  aggregate  population  of  3,000,000, 
making  and  cons'utiiing  one-half  of  all  the  gas  in  the  United,  States.  Assuming  that  4,000,000,000 'cubic  feet 
of  petroleum  gas  'would  ^^ive  iv'e  's'fme  illuminating  power  to  the  burners,  it  follows  that  625,000  barrels  of  oil 
would  be  all  tliaf 'is  required  to  supply  the  450  gas  works.  To  carry  this  still  further  and  put  at  rest  all 
questions  as  to  the'si^.ffi'crehey-o'f'oil;  we  will  assume  the  mean  population  of  the  United  States  to  be  34,000,000, 
the  quantity  of  petroleum  gas  necessary  to  supply  this  number  of  inhabitants  upon  the  same  basis,  would  be 
450  cubic  feet  to  each  person,  or,  15,300,000,000  cubic  feet,  requiring  for  its  manufacture  2,550,000  barrels 
of  oil,  and  the  erection  of  some  12  to  1,500  additional  gas  works. 

RELATIVE  TO  ENHANCED  VALUE  OF  OIL. 

13.  Question. — If  thus  generally  used  for  gas  would  not  the  price  or  value  of  petroleum  be  so  much 
enhanced  that  there  would  be  no  economy  in  its  manufacture,  as  compared  with  other  gas  ? 

Ans?ver. — The  substance  of  this  question  is  answered  in  the  preceding  interrogatory,  assuming  that 
crude  oil  reaches  $1  00  per  gallon  ;  the  cost  of  1,000  cubic  feet  of  petroleum  gas  would  be  $6  85, — equivalent 
to  3,000  cubic  feet  of  coal  gas,  costing  (^3  50  per  1000)  $10  50, — then  35  per  cent,  cheaper  than  coal  gas, 
besides  a  superior  light. 

To  show  that  the  absorption  of  crude  oil  for  gas  on  so  general  a  scale  as  to  take  2,550,000  barrels,  could 
not  have  a  corresponding  effect  upon  the  price  of  the  crude  oil,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  727,000  barrels 
of  refined  oil,  requiring  about  950,000  barrels  of  crude  to  produce  it,  was  consumed  in  its  fluid  state.  If 
consumed  in  a  gas,  the  effect  upon  price  would  be  merely  nominal. 

RELATIVE  TO  DANGERS  OF  EXPLOSIONS. 

14.  Question. — Is  benzine,  or  anything  of  an  objectionable  or  explosive  character,  produced  in  the  manu- 
facture of  your  gas,  and  if  so,  please  state  the  nature  of  it,  and  how  dangers  are  to  be  avoided  ? 

Answer. — None,  whatever.  All  the  ingredients  composing  the  oil  in  its  original  state  are  vaporized 
and  pass  into  the  retort  in  that  form  and  become  a  fixed  gas.  The  vaporizer  is  used  to  economize  in  the 
production  of  gas,  there  being  as  many  as  four  specific  gravities  to  the  oil. 

RELATIVE  TO  INSURANCE. 

15.  Question. — Should  the  manufacture  of  it  in  houses,  by  reason  of  danger,  if  any,  in  its  production 
or  uses,  increase  the  rate  of  insurance? 

15.  Answer. — I  see  no  reason  why  it  should,  for  the  quantity  brought  into  any  house  for  the  purpose 
of  making  gas  need  never  exceed  what  is  usually  brought  in  to  burn  in  its  fluid  state;  should  a  larger  quantity 
be  required,  it  can  be  kept  outside  the  building.  A  furnace  can  be  so  constructed  as  will  guard  against  all  risk 
from  fire.  The  danger  really,  with  care,  is  not  as  great  as  handling  oil  to  fill  the  same  number  of  burners  in  lamps. 


11 


RELATIVE  TO  THE  INVENTION. 

16.  Question. — Is  the  manufacture  of  gas  from  crude  petroleum  your  own  invention,  or  does  it  embrace 
a  combination  of  patents ;  and  if  a  combination,  whose  inventions  are  embraced  in  the  manufacture  of  the 
gas? 

Answer. — This  company  own  several  patents, — one  for  mixing  air  into  the  gas,  another  for  carbur- 
reting  gas,  another  for  making  gas,  partially  adopted  in  my  combination.  The  process  of  making  gas  from 
petroleum  is  solely  my  invention.  Mr.  Latrobe,  of  Baltimore,  has  examined  fully  into  this  subject  and  pro- 
nounced a  favorable  opinion  upon  my  patent. 


Though  unnecessary  to  offer  additional  remarks  in  support  of  the  Salisbury  process  for  manufacturing 
gas,  it  is  no  more  than  right,  while  upon  the  subject,  to  give  data  corroborative  of  what  has  been  said.  It 
may  serve,  at  least,  to  weaken,  if  not  divest,  people  of  prejudices  against  improvement  upon  the  old  order 
of  things,  and  thus  pave  the  way  for  a  general  introduction,  in  a  vastly  superior  shape,  of  one  of  the  prime 
necessities  of  civilized  life.  Anything  tending  in  this  direction  cannot  be  esteemed  otherwise  than  as  a 
public  benefit,  and  hence  the  reader  must  tolerate  that  which  he  would  regard  as  prolixity,  in  the  treatment 
or  discussion  of  other  ordinary  subjects.  As  applicable,  therefore,  to  the  value  of  Mr.  Salisbury's  process, 
further  facts  and  evidence  are  given  below :  ^ 


SCIENTIFIC  AND  LEGAL  OPINIONS  RELATIVE  TO  QUALITY  OF  GAS  AND  VALUE.  OF 

PATENTS. 

Abraham  Myers,  Esq.,  Assistant  Engineer  of  the  Philadelphia  Gras  Works,  having  made  examination 
and  test,  at  New  York,  of  Mr.  Salisbury's  process,  reports  as  follows : 

"  I  find  that  it  is,  in  quality,  one  hundredand fifty  (150)  per  cent,  superior  to  that  produced  by  the  New  York  .Gas  Com- 
pany, against  which  the  tests  were  made ;  or,  in  other  words,  TWO  cubic  feet  of  the  Petroleum  Gas  is  equal  to  FIVE  cubic 
feet  of  that  of  coal  gas. 

"  Its  illuminating  powers  are,  as  compared  with  coal  gas,  as  follows: 

"  New  York  Coal  Gas  standard,  14  candles. 

"  Petroleum  Gas  standard,  35  candles. 

"  Yours  respectfully, 
(Signed)  A.  MYERS." 


Dr.  Piggot,  of  Baltimore,  a  distinguished  chemist,  at  the  instance  of  parties  of  that  city,  also  thoroughly 
tested  the  mode  of  making  the  gas,  as  well  as  the  quality  of  the  light  produced  by  it.    He  reported  that — 

"The  gas  thus  manufactured  was  subjected  to  photom.etrical  tests,  in  comparison  with  that  furnished  by  the  New 
York  Gas  Company.  It  cannot  be  doubted,"  he  adds,  "that  the  new  process  is  a  VALUABLE  ADDITION  TO  OUR 
RESOURCES  FOR  ILLUMINATION,  AND  HIGHLY  TO  BE  COMMENDED  BOTH  FOR  BRILLIANCY  OF  LIGHT 
AND  ECONOMY  OF  PRODUCTION.  Since,  for  ordinary  burning,  two  (2)  cubic  feet  of  this  petroleum  gas  gives  a  light 
80  much  greater  than  five.  (5)  cubic  feet  of  ordinary  coal  gas,  it  follows  that,  at  the  same  price  per  thousand,  the  expense 
of  the  new  light  will  be  only  ONE-FOURTH  of  that  of  the  gas  in  common  use.    But  at  present  rates  this  gas  can  be 


13 


manufactured  *  *  *  so  that  its  ACTUAL  COST  WILL  NOT  EXCEED  ONE-SIXTH  of  the  sum  now  paid  for  coal 
gas.  These  estimates  are,  of  course,  based  on  the  present  price  of  petroleum,  and  on  the  hypothesis  of  home  manufacture 
(for  dwellings,  factories,  hotels,  &c.)  If  served  to  the  consumer  by  a  company,  their  profit  must,  of  course,  be  added; 
hut  they  could  certainly  SUPPLY  THE  PUBLIC  AT  ONE-HALF  THE  PRESENT  PRICE  OF  GAS,  and  then  have 
abundant  room  for  a  handsome  margin." 


John  H.  B.  Latrobe,  Esq.,  of  Baltimore,  one  of  the  leading  Patent  lawyers  of  the  United  States,  em- 
ployed by  Baltimoreans,  who  subsequently  purchased  the  right  of  Maryland,  to  examine  the  title  to  the 
Patents,  gives  the  following  opinion  : 

"  The  invention  (of  Mr.  Salisbury)  I  regard  as  sufficiently  described  in  the  specification,  and  the  claims  for  the  differ- 
ent elements,  in  their  various  combinations,  are  broad  enough  for  all  practical  purposes.  *  *  *  With  some  experience 
in  the  use  of  gas,  at  my  residence  in  the  country,  I  SEE  NO  REASON  WHY  THE  SALISBURY  PATENT  SHOULD 
NOT  BE  A  SUCCESS.  That  the  elements  employed  are  novel  in  their  combination  is  to  be  presumed,  from  the  fact  that 
the  Patent  Office  passed  the  claims ;  and  should  litigation  test  the  Patent  as  to  form  and  legal  requisites,  I  am  of  opinion 
it  would  stand.  So  far,  then,  as  the  TITLE  TO  THE  PATENTS  in  question  goes,  I  regard  it  as  ALTOGETHER  SUFFI- 
CIENT. So  far  as  the  Patents  themselves  are  concerned,  they  are,  in  point  of  law,  in  due  form,  and  SUFFICIENT  TO 
PROTECT  WHAT  THEY  DESCRIBE  AND  CLAIM.  So  far  as  my  information  goes,  in  point  of  utility,  my  general 
knowledge  of  the  subject,  and  some  partial  personal  experience,  dispose  me  to  THINK  MOST  FAVORABLY  OF  THE 
PLAN  that  has  been  submitted  to  me,  and  which  the  Patents  are  relied  upon  to  protect." 


Hekry  O'Rielly,  Esq., — distinguished  by  reason  of  his  connexion  with  the  American  Telegraph  Lines 
— has  taken  hold  of  the  Salisbury  Patent  Petroleum  Gas  enterprise  with  his  accustomed  zeal  and  energy,  and 
offers  to  supply  the  city  of  Brooklyn  with  better  light,  at  FORTY  per  cent,  below  the  present  price  now 
paid  the  Coal  Gas  Companies  for  the  same  service.    After  making  the  offer,  he  adds : 

"Friends  with  whom  I  became  familiar  through  all  parts  of  the  land,  when  establishing  the  First  Range  of  Tele- 
graph that  connected  the  diflTerent  sections  of  the  United  States,  and  during  my  long  service  connected  with  the  Press  and 
the  Public  Improvements,  will  probably  feel  assured  that  I  would  not  thus  address  them,  if  I  were  not  fully  satisfied  of  the 
great  public  benefits  that  must  flow  from  these  new  and  important  uses  of  the  most  wonderful  natural  production  of  this 
or  any  age. 

"Enterprising  men,  in  all  parts  of  the  Union,  may  find  their  interest  in  QUICKLY  EXAMINING  THIS  SUBJECT." 


On  these  subjects  the  following  reply,  to  inquiries  of  Mr.  O'Rielly,  presents  the  facts  in  the  plainest 
and  strongest  way  : — 
My  Dear  Sir  : 

In  reply  to  your  communication  of  this  morning,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  for  your  information : 
One  ton  (2,000)  lbs.  of  good  coal  will  make  eight  thousand  (8,000)  cubic  feet  of  Illuminating  Gas. 

The  weight  of  the  Petroleum  required  to  produce  an  equal  number  of  cubic  feet  will  vary  from  350  to  400  pounds, 
(50  to  CO  gallons,)  according  to  the  quality  of  the  oil. 

But  this  8,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  which  is  distilled  from  the  350  or  400  pounds  of  Crude  Petroleum  will  give  almost  as 
much  light  as  24,000  (twenty-four  thousand)  cubic  feet  of  the  gas  produced  from  the  Coal,  as  above  referred  to. 
Six  thousand  (0,000)  lbs.  of  Coal  are  required  to  produce  as  much  light  as  the  350  or  400  pounds  of  Petroleum.' 

I  am,  Sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  PIOWARD  ELLERS,  Chief  Engineer. 

To  Henrv  O'Rielly,  Esq.,  New  York. 


13 


WHICH  MAY  BE  EFFECTED  BY  INTBODUCING  THE  PETROLEUM  GAS  MADE  UNDER  PATENTS  OWNED  BY  THE 

PENNSYLVANIA  PETROLEUM  GAS  COMPANY. 

The  following  tabular  statements,  deduced  from  careful  consideration  of  the  quantity  of  light  required 
in  various  branches  of  public  and  private  use,  are  applicable  here,  as  illustrations  of  the  SAVING-  OF 
EXPENSE  that  may  be  made  by  the  introduction  of  the  SALISBURY  PETROLEUM  GAS,  in  contrast 
with  the  expense  of  the  Coal-G-as  now  commonly  used.  These  calculations,  it  may  be  remarked  in  passing, 
have  reference  only  to  the  use  of  the  Salisbury  Gas  for  lighting,  and  not  for  heating  or  culinary  purpose; . 
Were  these  latter  purposes  included,  the  advantages  of  the  new  article  would  appear  in  a  still  stronger  light. 
The  table  was  prepared  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Salisbury  Am.  Petroleum  Gas  Company. 


MEAN  ANNUAL  SAVINGS  BY  THE  FOLLOWING  CONSUMERS. 


For  What  Purpose. 

No.  of  Lights. 

Saving  of  Co&t. 

Days  Used. 

Hotels,  -  

1,000 

$7,528 

12 

365 

Dwellings, 

40 

265 

72 

365 

Theatres,  

400 

5,547 

10 

283 

Factories, 

400 

4,248 

20 

156 

Saloons,  - 

70 

1,360 

40 

313 

Public  Buildings,     -       -       -  - 

200 

3,273 

04 

340 

Churches,  ........ 

40 

35 

77 

52 

Colleges,  

200 

3,959 

52 

365 

Boarding  Schools,  

40 

335 

80 

365 

Fex'ry  Houses,  -  -  

Stores,  Wholesale,  

30 

1,153 

04 

365 

100 

821 

00 

156 

Stores,  Retail,  

Markets,  

50 

738 

68 

313 

250 

1,614 

15 

165 

Street  Lamps,  

10,000 

200,000 

00 

345 

Public  Parks,  -------- 

250 

11,667 

50 

365 

Newspaper  Offices,  -  -  

160 

2,969 

12 

313 

Offices,  --------- 

Railroad  Depots,  

30 

218 

70 

180 

20 

760 

56 

313 

Railroad  Cars  and  Trains,  now  using  oil, 

6  cars. 

490 

14 

313 

Ferry  Boats,  

Steamboats,  

40  lights. 

1,086 

04 

365 

100 

1,411 

20 

245 

COMPARATIVE  COST. 


The  various  means  of  illumination,  now  in  use,  cost  at  the  following  rates  per  hour : — 


Cents.  Mills. 

Tallow  candles,  .---32 
Stearine  candles,  -  -  -  -  4  8 
Composition  candles,  -  -  -  4  6 
Adamantine  candles,  -  -  -  5  2 
Spermaceti  candles,  -  -  -  6  7 
German  wax  candles, — (stearic  acid,)  8  5 
Wax  candles,  -  -  -  -  -  10  4 
Refined  whale  oil,  -       -       -       -       4  2 

4 


Sperm  oil. 

Lard  oil,  -  -  -  - 
Elephant  oil,  -  -  -  - 
Coal  oil,  .  -  -  - 
Petroleum  oil,  - 
Camphene  spirits,  -  -  - 
Coal  gas  (5  feet  burner,) 
Petroleum  gas  (5  feet  burner,) 


Cents,  Mills. 


6 

1 

CO 

2 

4 

9 

2 

5 

1 

1 

5 

4 

1 

8 

0 

7 

14 


USE  OF  SA-LISBUHY'S  GA^S   NO  Bi^H  TO 

Ignorant  of  the  process  of  manufacturing  gas  from  Crude  Petroleum,  under  Mr.  Salisbury's  patent, 
many  people  may  suppose  that  apprehended  danger  would  keep  Insurance  Companies  from  taking  risks  upon 
buildings  in  which  the  gas  is  made  and  used.  This  objection  or  difficulty  occurring  to  the  minds  of  the 
purchasers  of  the  right  for  Pennsylvania,  they  wrote  Mr,  Salisbury  in  relation  to  it,  and  received  the  following 
letter  addressed  to  him  by  the  Engineer  of  the  "  Salisbury  American  Petroleum  Gas  Company," — a  corporation 
organized  in  New  York  on  Mr.  Salisbury's  patents, — which  should  be  conclusive  on  this  point,  viz : — 

Engineer's  Office  S.  A.  P.  Gas  Co.,  "1 
243  Broadway.  / 

New  York,  March  28,  1866. 

Dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  your  comnmnication  of  this  A.  M.,  I  beg  to  say  that  the  Companies  insuring  this  building  are 
the  "Irving,"  "Mechanics'  and  Traders',"  "Greenwich,"  "Park,"  "Liverpool  and  London,"  "Globe,"  and  "Merchants'." 
The  rates  of  insurance  on  this  building  have  noi  been  increased  by  reason  of  the  presence  herein  of  our  small  gas-works,  nor 
can  I  imagine  why  they  should  be; — no  accident  can  possibly  take  place  from  the  gas  itself,  nor  is  there  within  75  per  cent, 
as  much  danger  from  tire  as  is  daily  incurred  in  every  house  containing  a  furnace  for  heating  the  premises. 

Yours,  most  trulj'-, 

GEORGE  HOWARD  ELLERS,  Engineer. 

S   C.  Salisbury,  Esq. 

It  is  proper  to  remark  that  the  building  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  letter  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
on  Broadway,  and  is  occupied,  not  only  with  the  Salisbury  Patent  Apparatus,  in  almost  constant  operation, 
but  is  used  for  banking  and  insurance  business. 


COST  OF  aA.s  ANT)  OLOGaii<ra  of  works. 

Col.  Ellers,  Engineer,  &c.,  author  of  the  foregoing  letter,  writes  Mr.  O'Riellt  on  the  subject  of  the 
comparative  cost  of  Coal  and  Crude  Petroleum  Gas,  and  of  the  clogging  of  the  works,  as  follows : — 

On  the  subject  of  cost,  the  following  data  may  prove  interesting  and  instructive : — At  the  present  2)rice  of  Crude  Petroleum 
Oil,  (25  cents  per  gallon,)  one  thousand  (1,000)  cubic  feet  of  gas  made  therefrom,  will  cost  about  ^1  75,  but  this  1,000  cubic 
feet  of  Petroleum  Gas,  wliich  costs  §1  75,  will  give  as  much  light  as  3,000  cubic  feet  of  ordinary  Coal  Gas  whose  cost  is 
$10  50=(3  50x3);  or,  conversely,  you  are  obtaining  the  same  amount  of  light  for  about  59  cents  that  you  are  now  paying 
$3  50  for  in  this  (New  York)  locality,  and  as  high  as  four,  five,  and  even  six  dollars  elsewhere. 

************** 

In  conclusion,  you  ask  me,  "  If  the  use  of  petroleum  for  making  gas  is  followed  by  the  clogging  of  the  '  works'  and 
'distributing  pipes,'  with  the  residuums,  &c."  A  full  reply  to  this  question  would  require  a  letter  of  so  extensive  and 
explanatory  a  nature  as  to  carry  it  far  beyond  the  limits  of  this  present  communication.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  difficulty 
you  refer  to  has,  so  far,  never  been  found  to  exist  in  any  greater  proportion  than  that  which  is  daily  encountered  in  coal  gas 
works;  nor  am  I  able  to  deduce  from  ray  past  experience  a  single  reason,  which  would  go  to  prove  that  the  above  opinion 
is  erroneous,  or  its  conclusions  illogical. 

I  am,  Sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

GEO.  HOWARD  ELLERS,  C.  E., 
Henry  O'Rielly,  Esq.  Engineer-in- Chief. 


15 


WHA-T  FHILADELI^IIIi^  WOULD  SAVE. 

Amount  of  gas  produced  by  Philadelphia  Gas  Works  in  1865,      -       -.  -       -  844,516,000  cubic  feet. 

Cost  of  producing  same,  about    -       -       -       -       -       -       -  -       -       $1,542,601  21 

Gross  profits  on  production,        --  121,469  95 

Loss  during  the  year,         -  158,783  61 

Amount  invested  in  the  "Works,  up  to  Jan.  1,  1866,  was  $4,915,280  03.  The  interest  on  this  capital,  at  6 
per  cent.,  is  $294,916  80.  The  gross  profits  during  the  year,  it  -will  be  perceived,  did  not  yield  2|-  per  cent, 
on  the  capital  invested.  And  when  the  loss  to  the  WorJcs  during  the  same  period — (which,  by  the  way,  is  a 
somewhat  strange  exhibit  by  the  side  of  the  gross  profits  ;  but  so  the  Report  of  the  Gas  Trustees  reads) — 
is  considered,  the  danger — it  should  be  said  necessity — of  increased  taxation  to  make  up  such  annual 
deficits  as  $158,753  61,  is  alarming  enough  to  excite  even  a  patient  and  generous  tax-paying  public.  It 
■were  folly  to  even  hope  for  a  reduction  in  the  price  of  gas,  manufactured  by  the  present  process,  with  so 
great  a  loss  as  the  Trustees  show.  It  is  not  to  be  expected,  either,  that  any  advantage  that  may  accrue  to 
the  Works  hereafter,  by  reason  of  reduction  in  price  of  material  and  wages,  can  do  more  than  provide  for  a 
fair  per  centage  on  the  loans  issued ;  hence  the  folly  of  counting  upon  a  change  from  high  to  low  prices. 
Consumers  may  as  well,  therefore,  unless  a  new  process  of  manufacturing  gas  be  adopted,  give  up  the  idea 
of  cheaper  and  better  light;  for  the  Gas  Trustees,  it  is  fair  to  presume,  do  the  best  they  can,  both  as  to 
price  and  quality,  under  present  circumstances.  And,  as  will  appear  further  on,  in  the  statement  of  other 
Pennsylvania  gas  companies,  Philadelphia  is  not  an  exception  to  the  rule  of  small  profits  earned  by  gas 
companies  using  coal.    Why  cast  odium  and  blame,  then,  upon  the  agents,  when  the  process  itself  is  at  fault  ? 

Now,  let  us  see  "what  Philadelphia  tvould  save"  by  the  adoption  of  the  Salisbury  process  of  manufac- 
turing gas  out  of  crude  petroleum.  It  is  not  only  claimed,  but  is  established,  that  there  is  an  economy  of 
more  than  50  per  cent,  in  its  production  over  coal  gas.  But  say  that  40  per  cent,  is  all  that  is  saved — (the 
reduction  that  Mr.  O'Rielly  ofi"ers  to  make  for  the  Brooklyn  people,  allowing  for  himself,  of  course,  a  large 
margin  for  profit  above  that  figure),  at  this  rate  there  would  have  been  on  the  $1,542,601  21  cost  of  pro- 
duction, at  least  $617,040  84  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  Gas  Works,  instead  of  $121,469  95.  This  saving 
of  $617,040  84  would  have  paid  6  per  cent,  on  the  $4,915,280  08  invested  in  the  Works,  and  at  the 
same  time  enabled  the  Trustees  to  have  made  an  aggregate  reduction  in  the  price  of  gas  consumed  of 
$322,124  04 ;  or  a  reduction  of  33  per  cent,  on  gas  bills  of  1865.  Excluding  interest  on  cost  of  Works, 
the  reduction  in  price  of  gas  would  be  much  greater  than  33  per  cent.  It  is  right  to  say  that  the  foregoing 
comparison  is  based  upon  prices  ruling  now. 

It  would  seem,  therefore,  to  be  the  part  of  wisdom  to  give' the  Patent  Crude  Petroleum  Gas  a  preference 
over  the  coal  gas  now  served  to  the  people.    Why  not  at  least  give  it  a  trial. 


P^Hl^sTlSrSYLVAISriA  GAS  COMi^ANIES. 

The  Auditor  General  of  Pennsylvania  reports  the  following  companies  as  having  made  returns  for 
1865.  The  Report,  it  will  be  observed,  embraces  but  a  portion  of  the  gas  companies  of  the  State,  thus  show- 
ing that,  as  at  present  managed,  gas  companies  are  in  a  very  unhealthy  financial  condition.  It  is  no  more 
than  fair  to  presume,  that  where  neither  tax  on  stocks  or  income  are  returned,  deficits  or  losses  are  met 


16 


with.  The  companies  paying  taxes  show,  also,  that  their  incomes  must  be  largely  increased,  to  enable 
them  to  make  the  business  profitable — to  say  nothing  of  making  provision  for  saving  to  the  gas  consumers. 


(( 

u 
a 
u 
a 


Allen  Gas  Company,  

Bethlehem  Gas  Company,  - 

Birmingham,  E.  Birmingham,  and  S.  Paterson  Gas  Company, 
Catasaqua  Gas  Company,  - 
Chester 
Columbia 
Erie 
Easton 
Gettysburg 
Harrisburg 
Honesdale 
Lancaster  " 
Lebanon  " 
Lewistown  " 
Norristown  " 

Northern  Liberties  Gas  Company, 
Pittsburg 
Pottstown 
Pottsville 
Reading 
Washington 
Williamsport 
Wilkesbarre 
York 
Meadville 
Danville 
Greensburg 


a 
a 
u 
(( 
(( 
a 
(( 
u 
(( 
li 
u 


Tax  on  Corporation.Stocks. 

Tax  «n  Net  Income 

|86  40 

$18  00 

92  00 

8  39 

274  72 

8  28 

51  90 

9  98 

155  25 

56  25 

6  00 

119  05 

326  55 

24  75 

750  00 

116  28 

45  00 

400  00 

90  00 

83  17 

15  88 

14  85 

62  55 

93  75 

-    1,900  00 

-    1,898  00 

611  03 

52  95 

14  76 

105  50 

400  00 

413  84 

72  67 

4  55 

112  00 

153  36 

120  00 

26  10 

4  50 

5  08 

The  charges  for  gas  by  the  companies  named  above,  per  1,000  cubic  feet,  are  not  much,  if  any,  at 
variance  with  appended  list  of  prices" in  twenty-five  of  the  largest  cities,  which  prices  include  Government 
tax,  viz : — 


New  York,  average, 

$3  16 

Albany,  .... 

.     $3  75 

Philadelphia,  -       -       -  - 

3  15 

Providence,  ... 

3  75 

Brooklyn,  average,  -       -  - 

3  50 

Pittsburg,   -       -       -  - 

2  30 

Boston,  average,     ,       .  . 

3  60 

Rochester,  -       -       -  . 

4  25 

Baltimore,  - 

3  30 

Milwaukee,  ... 

4  00 

Cincinnati,  .... 

3  33 

Detroit,  .... 

.      -      -      4  00 

Chicago,        -       .       .  . 

3  80 

Jersey  City,  ... 

4  00 

New  Orleans,  ... 

5  50 

Richmond,  .... 

5  GO 

St.  Louis,  .... 

4  17 

Charleston,  ... 

5  00 

Newark,  .... 

3  76 

New  Haven,  ... 

.  ,    3  75 

Buffalo,     '    -       .       .  . 

3  50 

Syracuse,    .       .       .  - 

-      -      .      4  25 

Louisville,     -       .       .  . 

3  33 

Lowell,  .... 

3  75 

Washington,  -       -       -  - 

4  10 

The  average  is  $3  70  per  1,000  cubic  feet.  In  the  remaining  407  cities,  towns  or  villages,  the  average 
is  $4  72  per  1,000  cubic  feet ;  the  lowest  price  being  $3  50  and  the  highest  $6.  Producer  and  consumer 
are  equally  interested  in  bringing  these  prices  down  They  have  their  only  remedy  in  the  Salisbury 
Petroleum  Gas. 


17 


CHA-HTER  OF  THE  P'E^^IsTSYX.V^lSriA-  PETRO- 
LEUM a^S  COMPANY. 


AN  ACT  ■ 

ENTITLED  AN  ACT  TO  INCORPORATE  THE  PENNSYLVANIA  PETROLEUM  GAS  COMPANY. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  General  Assembly  met,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  authority  of  the  same,  That  E.  E.  Jones, 
E.  R.  Myer,  George  R.  Hazewell,  Ezra  Holcoaib,  Charles  M.  Hall,  aad  their  associates,  and  all  others  who 
hereafter  may  become  associated  with  them,  are  hereby  created  a  body  corporate  and  politic,  by  the  name, 
style  and  title  of  the  Pennsylvania  Petroleum  Gras  Company,  and  by  such  name  and  title  shall  be  capable  of 
suing  and  being  sued,  pleading  and  being  impleaded^  and  of  manufacturing,  selling  and  conveying  the 
Patent  Rights  to  manufacture,  illuminating  gas,  under  or  by  patent  rights  of  Silas  C.  Salisbury,  Letters 
Patent  for  which  were  granted  May  thirtieth,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-five,  or  by  any  other 
patent  process ;  and  also  to  manufacture  the  patent  apparatus  therefor,  and  to  sell  and  convey  the  same, 
together  with  the  privilege  of  constructing  such  works  and  improvements  as  may  appertain  to  the  business 
of  the  said  Company,  and  of  receiving,  using,  granting,  and  conveying  such  personal,  real  and  mixed  pro- 
perty as  may  be  taken  in  exchange  or  payment  for  the  said  patent  rights,  and  the  right  to  use  and  manu- 
facture the  said  patent  apparatus,  upon  such  terms  and  in  such  way  as  they  may  deem  proper. 

Section  2.  That  the  capital  stock  of  the  said  Company  shall  consist  of  twenty  thousand  shares  of  five 
dollars  each,  with  the  privilege  of  increasing,  from  time  to  time,  the  same  to  two  hundred  thousand  shares, 
and  fixing  the  value  of  each  share  at  five  dollars.  The  said  Company  shall  have  power  to  make  by-laws,  as 
they  may  deem  proper,  to  enable  them  to  carry  out  the  objects  of  this  act,  the  same  to  amend  or  add  to  at 
pleasure,  so  that  they  are  not  repugnant  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  the  Constitution  of  this 
Commonwealth,  or  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Section  3.  That  the  said  Company  shall  have  power  to  adopt  a  common  seal,  and  the  same 
at  pleasure  to  alter,  and  to  issue  certificates  of  stock  representing  the  value  of  their  property,  in 
such  form  and  subject  to  such  regulations  as  they  may  legally  prescribe,  and  to  regulate  and  prescribe  in 
what  manner  and  form  their  contracts  and  obligations  shall  be  executed. 

Section  4.  That  the  said  corporation  shall  have  'the  right  to  fix  the  number^of  directors  by  their  by-laws, 
a  majority  of  whom  shall  be  a  quorum,  one  of  whom  shall  be  a  president,  and  they  shall  hold  their  office  till 
their  successors  shall  be  duly  elected,  and.  also  to  appoint  and  remove  agents  employed  in  the  transaction  of 
their  business. 

Section  5.  That  the  said  Company  may  at  any  time  change  its  name,  by  calling  a  meeting  of  their 
stockholders,  due  notice  of  Avhich  shall  be  published  in  one  or  more  papers  in  Philadelphia,  a  majority  of  the 
stock  of  the  Company  cast  at  said  meeting  to  determine  whether  the  name  be  changed  or  not  :  certificate, 
signed  by  the  President  of  the  said  Company,  with  the  corporate  seal  of  the  Company  affixed  thereto,  to  be 
made  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  such  change. 

Section  6.  That  the  Office  of  the  said  Company  shall  be  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 

Section  7  That  the  said  Company  shall  pay  a  bonus  to  the  State  Treasurer  of  one-quarter  of  one 
per  centum  upon  the  amount  of  the  capital  stock,  one  year  after  the  date  of  the  organization  of  the  Company, 
and  a  like  bonus  upon  any  increase  of  the  capital  stock,  payable  in  one  year  after  such  increase  of  stock. 

JAS.  R.  KELLEY, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

D.  FLEMING, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate. 
Approved  the  third  day  of  May,  Anno  Domini  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-six. 


A.  G.  CURTIN. 


18 


G  O     O  L  XJ  S  I  o  isr . 

E.  Eeed  Myer,  Edward  E.  Jones  and  Cttarles  M.  Hall,  of  Philadelphia,  are  the  owners  of  the 
Salisbury  patents  for  manufacturing  gas  out  of  Crude  Petroleum,  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania ; — any  one 
of  whom  can  be  applied  to  for  information  in  reference  to  the  right  to  manufacture  and  use  the  Gas  in 
Pennsylvania. 

They  will,  in  a  short  time,  put  in  operation,  in  Philadelphia,  an  apparatus  of  sufficient  capacity  to 
demonstrate  practically  the  reliability  and  truthfulness  of  all  that  is  claimed  in  the  unanswerable  data  herein 
set  forth.  In  the  meantime  the  privilege  will  be  accorded  to  parties  for  such  examination  and  tests  as  they 
may  desire  to  make,  at  No.  243  Broadway,  New  York,  where  an  apparatus  is  in  operation. 

The  owners  of  the  Patents,  for  Pennsylvania,  having  secured  the  passage  of  an  Act  of  Incorporation 
through  the  Legislature,  propose  organizing  a  company  for  the  sale  of  rights  and  apparatus  for  manufacturing 
the  gas. 

CITIES,  SUBURBS  of  large  cities,  and  small  towns, — proprietors  of  factories  and  isolated  blocks  of 
buildings,  and  others  now  debarred  from  the  use  of  gas  light  by  the  costliness  and  other  objections  connected 
with  coal  gas,  can,  therefore,  readily  secure  not  only  GOOD  LIGHT,  but  excellent  FUEL,  at  reasonable 
price,  by  becoming  their  own  Gas  Manufacturers.  Existing  Coal  Gas  Works  can  be  altered  so  as  to  use  the 
Salisbury  Patents,  and  thus  promote  alike  the  interests  of  the  makers  and  consumers  of  Gas. 

RAILROAD  COMPANIES  v.'ill  also  find  their  interest  promoted,  and  the  comfort  of  passengers 
increased,  by  LIGHTING  their  DEPOTS  and  CARS  Avith  the  New  Petroleum  Gas,— for  this  gas  is  so 
concentrated,  that  suitable  gas-holders  can  be  fixed  under  the  floor  of  each  passenger  car,  and  be  readily 
filled  at  the  principal  stations,  where  the  portable  gas  works  might  be  located  for  lighting  the  depots,  machine 
shops,  and  surrounding  railroad  tracks  and  turn-outs.  The  deficiency  of  light  in  and  around  Railroad  Depots 
and  stopping  places,  as  well  as  in  the  csfrs,  is  one  of  the  gj^eat  nuisances  connected  with  the  present  Railroad 
arrangements.  •  •  . 

STEAMBOAT  OWNERS  may  also  profit  by  tli(?  suggestion,  in  lighting  their  passenger  vessels  and 
their  chief  landing  places. 

With  the  great  advantages  that  this  new  Petroleum  process  aff'ords  for  supplying  LIGHT  and  HEAT, 
on  the  most  economical  terms,  it  is  in  the  power  of  every  VILLAGE  to  SECURE  QUICKLY  WELL- 
ARRANGED  GAS  WORKS,  so  as  to  profit  by  the  luxury  of  CHEAP  LIGHT  AND  HEAT. 

Communications,  whether  in  reference  to  purchase  of  stock  interest  in  the  Company,  or  in  regard  to  the 
purchase  of  territory  and  the  right  to  manufacture  the  gas,  should  be  addressed  to 

"THE  PENNSYLVANIA  PETROLEUM  GAS  COMPANY," 

Philadelphia  Post  Office, 

Box  1816. 

■mm      APPARATUS  NOW  IN  OPERATION 

At  No.  124  North  Sixth  Street, 

PHILADELPHIA. 


